MANCHESTER UNITED have been slammed by Danny Murphy for their “stupid” warm-up for the second half aginst Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils were humiliated in South London as Oliver Glasner’s side ran rampant, winning 4-0.
Michael Olise ran up the pitch unchecked to open the scoring before Jean-Philippe Mateta continued his rich vein of form to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead at half-time.
United already appeared dead and buried by that stage but a member of the coaching staff tried to pep them up for the second half with a quick fitness drill.
But pundit Danny Murphy was left dismayed by what he was watching, as the United players sprinted over a few cones before standing around while they waited for their opponents to come out.
He blasted the ‘warm-up’ on talkSPORT, saying: “There’s a member of [Erik] ten Hag’s staff that’s run from the dugout to the corner flag where they come out here at Palace.
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“He’s put three yellow cones down and three red about a yard apart.
“As the players come out, he insisted that each one of them did a little short, fast burst of little short steps in between the three cones and then sprint off into the middle of the pitch.
“Like that’s going to make any difference, look at them now standing around chatting because they’re out early.
“Those little six cones, I don’t know what his role is, maybe he’s a cone man rather than a set-play man but the reality is, this is how stupid football’s gone.
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“That they think those little six cones and those little short steps for a millisecond are going to make a difference to the mindset of those players.”
The drill had no effect as United conceded twice more, with Erik ten Hag receiving damning criticism for the performance.
Jamie Carragher claims the Red Devils are the worst coached side in the division, with Murphy also left baffled by the team’s preparation.
He continued: “The reason you come out early is to get yourself ready and that means run around, do some sprints, get yourself angry, do whatever you need to do.
“Not stand around and chat sixty seconds after doing three little steps, the sports science coach or the fitness coach thinks, ‘I tell you what I’ll do, I’ll get them going, I’ll put three little cones down for when they come out, that’ll do it’.
“It’s fine doing it to get yourself going but they went and stood around chatting for a minute after.”
Pundits’ verdict on Ten Hag’s future
Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future?
Michael Owen – He has to go
“He cannot, simply cannot, manage this team next season. He’s not good enough.”
Teddy Sheringham – Might stay if he wins Cup but should go
“If United win the FA Cup, he could stay. But, for me, changes are needed and United need to get it done sooner than later.”
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
